Scouting Report: Taliese Fuaga (OT) - Oregon State
Sales Pitch: "Aggressive mauling right tackle with the power to be an impact run blocker. Length and redirect ability in space may indicate a future move to the inside but shows enough quickness out of his stance and high level hand usage in pass pro to get a shot at OT first."
Athletic Profile
Height: 6’ 5 3/4”
Weight: 324 lbs
Arm Length: 33 1/8”
Hand Size: 10 1/8”
40 Yard Dash: 5.13
10 Yard Split: 1.77
Vertical: 32”
Broad Jump: 9’ 3
Short Shuttle: N/A
3-Cone: N/A
Age: 22
Relative Athletic Score: 9.63 / 10.00
Statistics
Career: 0 SK - 5 HIT - 10 HUR - 23 PR - 12 PEN
2023: 0 SK - 2 HIT - 8 HUR - 11 PR - 8 PEN
Strengths
Big powerful frame with strong hands
Experienced player with high football IQ
Aggressive mauler who looks to finish reps
First step quickness to get out to blocks in space
Strength to create displacement at the point of attack
Grip strength to attach to defenders and control reps
Fluid and technically sound pass sets
Independent hands in pass protection with a variety of moves
Size to protect the pocket versus bull rushers
Weaknesses
Stiff upright frame with minimal knee bend
Attempts at kill shots allow players to slide off his blocks
Pops up out of his stance and can be late to cut off backside defenders
High level speed rushers can beat him to the edge
Will over extend in pass sets and expose himself to inside counters
Lacks the flexibility to absorb contact when his feet are not set
Fails to flip his hips and seal off backside reach blocks if he does not win with first step
Accrued 8 penalties in 2023
Summary
Taliese Fuaga is a big powerful right tackle who is a mauler in the run game and technician in pass pro. The former 3-Star from the state of Washington started over 1,500 snaps at Right Tackle over the past two years, receiving All-Pac 12 honors twice and All-American honors in 2023. Fuaga has the size and strength to create significant displacement at the point of attack on solo blocks and double teams. He has powerful hands that are difficult to disengage from. He will drive defenders out of the play and through the turf once he has control. He shows good first step quickness to get to blocks out in space and at the 2nd level. Oregon State ran a lot of zone concepts with Fuaga using his straight-line speed to seal the edge. Fuaga is more of a brawler than technician as a run blocker. He looks for kill shots in space and can get over extended and ripped off balance. He fails to consistently stick on blocks, allow defenders to slide off him and make plays. Pad level is also a concern as a run blocker, he will pop up out of his stance when blocking backside, leading to him being tardy to cut off pursuit defenders. Fuaga is a technically sound pass protector. He is fluid and balanced in his kick step with little wasted movement. He has quick active hands that remain independent of each other. He will vary his set points and strike timing to keep rushers off balance. Fuaga has average agility and can struggle with speed rushers around the corner when he is late to get out of his stance. To compensate he can overcommit laterally and expose himself to counters across his face. Fuaga has the size and strength to hold his ground versus power rushers but when he does not set his feet he can run into trouble. He lacks flexibility in his core and knees. When he is not prepared to take contact he lacks the recovery tools to compensate. Fuaga has the size, mentality and pass protection polish to be a quality starter at tackle in the NFL. His average length and foot speed may indicate a future home at guard but he has the tools to try at tackle first and the versatility to get a teams best five offensive lineman out on the field.